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International Training Institute (ITI) Delivers Innovative Digital Training to Building Trades Apprentices

Key Successes

• ​Attracted a new generation of apprentices with

innovative VR and simulation-based training.

• ​Expanded access to hands-on training at facilities

lacking physical training labs.

• ​Enabled detailed assessment of apprentice

proficiency with advanced tracking tools.

• ​Established a new, measurable standard for

apprenticeship training and job readiness.

Summary

• ​More than 14,000 apprentices are registered at

local training facilities (Joint Apprenticeship

Training Committees or JATCs) in the United

States and Canada.

• ​HVAC service is offered at approximately 65

JATCs, many of which lack the resources for a

training lab

• ​The International Training Institute (ITI)

partnered with Interplay Learning to provide

modern, hands-on, virtual HVAC training at 90%

of those JATCs

• ​Recruiters and organizers from the union used

competency data from Interplay’s data insights

to expedite delivering qualified techs into the

field.

Virtual Training Attracts Younger Recruits

When ITI program administrator Michael Harris first encountered an Interplay VR demo, he saw

the strong value hands-on training could offer to

SMART members and apprentices. JATC facilities

vary dramatically in size, with some supporting

as few as ten students and others supporting as

many as 1,000.

Recruiting a younger generation of apprentices

is an industry necessity, and hands-on learning

and practice are essential to apprenticeships.

The ability to visualize and troubleshoot complex

scenarios is a challenge in smaller JATCs that

lack training labs, but simulations offer a

sophisticated answer that speaks to a generation

of digital natives.

Virtual Training Attracts Younger Recruits

ITI partnered with Interplay Learning to deliver

hands-on training to SMART apprentices and

members at JATC locations nationwide, online

through Interplay’s platform. Intending to attract a

new generation of apprentices, the organization

hoped the technology would change how the

workforce thinks about hands-on training.

Smaller JATCs can now offer comprehensive

training, giving their members and apprentices

experience parallel to what they might receive in a

service lab. They can also earn continuing

education credits in 21 specialty areas. With

Interplay’s suite of engagement and reporting

tools, ITI can now more easily assess, train, and

manage their growing number of apprentices, all

in one place. They can direct student learning

paths, track progress, and exercise control over

content.

“We’ve seen hundreds of VR products. We always

ask if they add value or if they’re just cool. You can

spend a lot of money on something that’s just

cool, but offers no real value. When we saw the

Interplay VR demo, we could see how it would

enhance training and learning retention for our

members.”

— Mike Harris

About ITI

• ​ITI provides programs for training/retraining

and develops training materials to improve

sheet metal industry performance.

• ​Jointly sponsored by SMART, the International

Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail, and

Transportation Workers.

• ​ITI oversees over 150 JATC locations, where

apprentices enroll in 4-5 y

Training Goals

• ​Attract a younger generation of apprentices

with engaging, modern training tools.

• ​Enhance the quality and accessibility of handson training across all JATCs.
• ​Standardize the measurement of apprentice

skills and job readiness.

• ​Provide flexible learning paths and continuing

education opportunities for apprentices.

Training Challenges

• ​Difficulty in recruiting younger apprentices in

recent years.

• ​Limited capacity of traditional, instructor-led

courses due to time and staffing constraints.

• ​Varying JATC sizes, with smaller facilities

lacking physical training labs.

• ​Lack of tools to assess and verify the skills and

experience of new apprentices.

Driving Recruitment and Setting New Training Standards

Recruiters successfully attracted a new

generation of digital-first apprentices by

leveraging simulations and VR training, making

apprenticeship programs more appealing to

younger audiences. JATC locations were able to

offer comprehensive technical, hands-on training

in facilities where it was previously not possible,

overcoming limitations due to space and resources.

The expanded Interplay Learning catalog

provided a wider range of training options for

SMART apprentices and members while giving

instructors greater control to direct and oversee

classes, manage student progress, and customize

learning paths. This approach established a new,

measurable standard for defining job readiness,

enhancing the overall effectiveness and reach of

the apprenticeship programs.

The comprehensive course offerings that JATCs

are now offering SMART members and

apprentices through Interplay give them access

to more opportunities and faster, more powerful

learning tools. At the same time, ITI is endowed

with a compelling recruiting tool and

sophisticated custom training. JATCs of all sizes

can provide hands-on learning opportunities that

are unrestricted by their available physical

resources. Instructors have more control in

assigning learning paths and observing students’

progress and development, elevating the

standards for the upcoming workforce.

“Virtual training gives students the ability to see

things from a perspective they typically can’t and

helps them understand. For example, when you

look at an HVAC system with exposed ducts, you

have no idea what’s going on inside, but with VR,

now you can see right inside!” — Mike Harris

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